This was one time when I really could say "a picture is worth more than a thousand words" because that second plane brought instant recognition that the first collision was no accident.

Ten years ago on Sept. 11, I was home sick with fever and a sinus infection, sitting in my lounge chair so I could breathe and sleepily watching a morning news show on my small bedroom television set.

A “breaking news” signal was followed by pictures of an airplane that had just crashed into a tall building a few blocks from the television studios in New York.

As disturbing as it was to see the first flames, it was nothing compared to the stunning realization that a second plane was headed for the companion tower.

This was one time when I really could say “a picture is worth more than a thousand words” because that second plane brought instant recognition that the first collision was no accident.

Soon, we heard reports that those were not the only two flights hijacked and crashed.

For those of us who had family flying on that day, the anxiety was even more intense. Since our oldest son is a frequent flier in the course of his occupation, I was relieved to learn that he was not traveling that week. (The news suddenly becomes personal when you know your family may be in harms way.)

About six weeks later, I boarded a plane with several other local media folks, headed for Rome to learn more about the unique Vatican Art Exhibit to come to Lubbock the next year. If I recall correctly, a lot of planned trips by air were canceled in those weeks in fear of another such terrorist attack on our country.

How often do we work ourselves into a state of panic over what might happen that never happens? The reason worry never solves anything is that it resides in our imaginations, which at 3 a.m. can really run rampant. Physically, the body doesn’t know the difference between reality and our vivid imagination, so it triggers the release of our fight or flight responses. Too much adrenalin released over time, and we wear out our body. In other words, worry can make us sick.

Jesus told his followers, “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. … So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matthew 6:19-34)

Even if such an incident had occurred on the flight to Italy, I believe that life should be lived with prudence and wisdom, but not in fear of what tomorrow will bring. Next to worry, the most unproductive activity is to engage in the “what-ifs” about past decisions that we cannot change.

Our concerns may be valid, but must be lived out in the present — the todays of life. The past is gone. It is valuable for instruction, but we cannot change it. So, learn and let go. Move on. The future is not here yet. The only thing we can do about the future is — having learned from the past — take care to make the best of today.

That does not mean we will never make a mistake or that we will not suffer the consequences of someone’s poor decision. What it will teach us is that we are not ultimately in control of our circumstances. We can give up being little gods. We are not big enough to carry the burden of the world on our shoulders.

Tragedy happens. It has a way of making us better or bitter. Better, if we learn to depend on the love and mercy of God to carry us through the good times and the bad times. (I shudder when I see the description “a self-made man.” What deception to think even for a moment that we are our own invention.)

Bitter, if we waste what time we have on this earth whining and blaming others for our misfortunes. Yes, we sometimes suffer greatly from deliberate and accidental actions of others. But just as our worries makes us ill, so do our hatreds for those who commit wrong against us. Forgiveness is a hard necessity.

On this 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack of Sept. 1, 2001, we will reflect on the lives lost, the pain and grief of families disrupted here and around the world. We will remember, but we will seek to overcome evil with good. We will love more lavishly, forgive more fervently and devote ourselves more diligently to building a better world that we may have hope for tomorrow.

God bless the grieving, grant us wisdom from yesterday’s failures, courage for today’s challenges and faith for the future.

BETH PRATT RETIRED AS RELIGION EDITOR FROM THE AVALANCHE-JOURNAL AFTER 25 YEARS. YOU CAN EMAIL HER AT BETH.PRATT@CHEERFUL.COM.